Why do Americans insist on giving European food a bad name.
By
on
September 1st, 2010
English muffins don’t exist in England, French toast doesn’t exist in France, Spanish omlettes don’t exist in Spain, Danishs’ don’t exist in Denmark, English tea doesn’t exist in England. the list goes on.
I’ve lived in many countries throughout europe, and if any of this crap got served in their respective countries, it would get sent straight back to the kitchen. I’m just curious why Americans insist on giving bad food names to suggest they come from other countries when they don’t.
@ alter ego. Well since you asked i have never “visited” either England or France but have lived in both countries most my life. My mother is from the Basque country which is both Spanish and French, and my Father is Cornish so i am very much a proud Celt.
Being both English and Basque (or Spanish/French), i feel i am probably more qualified to speak on Behalf of Spanish French, and English cuisine than the average American, also taking into account that my mother runs one of the most famous restaurants in San Sebastian which has been in the family for over 300 years, and run by 9 generations of my family.
My father was in the British military, so growing up i have lived in Italy, Denmark, Germany, Holland, and Belgium, so therefor i feel i am reasonably ‘au fait’ with European cuisine.
I can most certainly assure you, that if the Average Brit got served a cup of what Americans call ‘English tea’, it would get spat out.
I have never in 30 years of being French, and living in just about every departament of France, ever encountered what Americans like to call ‘French Toast’, and I think i am more than qualified to say that ‘Spanish omlettes’ most certainly DO NOT exist in Spain.
Thanks for your time.
Alter Ego says:
Which parts of Europe did you visit. English muffins most certainly, not only exist in England but are very popular there.French toast is a popular dish for breakfast in most parts of France from Paris to Nice. The best Spanish omlette I have ever tasted was in Barcelona followed closely by the same dish in Marbella, brown & crispy on the outside, softer on the inside with potato as the filling. I can’t comment on Danish pastries but English tea is a strong, flavoursome brew normally served with breakfast, usually with hot muffins and butter melting through them. >>>”ADDITION”>>. I accept what you say but I am not arguing with you, I am categorically telling you that Spanish omlettes most certainly do exist in Spain. I had one in the Hotel el Fuerte, Marbella, Andalusia, Spain every morning for almost two weeks from the 5th of July to the 17th. Phone and ask them. I have been going there for years.I have enjoyed Spanish omlettes in various locations in Spain for quite a few years. It is also served as a light lunch, and again the Hotel el Fuerte in Marbella serves them for a mid day snack in their ‘bistro’ at the entrance to their gymnasium every day. Please don’t call me a liar. I have also had Spanish omlettes in the Meridian Hotel in Barcelona at Christmas 2008 and Easter 2009. Again sir, do not call me a liar. I have eaten French toast at the cafe Benoit, the Bistro du Dome, both of which are in Paris. I have stayed at and dined frequently at the hotel Negresco in Nice where I have had french toast many, many times. I am Irish but travel regularly to England where I have had ‘English style’ tea on countless occasions. One of the delights of visiting England is savouring a real, oven fresh muffin with creamy butter and strawberry jam. What’s was the colour of the sky in the Europe in which you lived. Did you ever go out.
September 1st, 2010 at 6:43 am
joinme4coffee says:
English muffins do exist in England, they just don’t call them English muffins because that would be redundant
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muffin_%28English%29
Spanish omelette or tortilla de patatas - is perhaps one of the best-known Spanish dishes.
http://www.spain-recipes.com/spanish-omelette.html
Danish pastry is a specialty in Denmark. They just call them pastries (see English muffins) We call them Danish pastry because we got them from Denmark
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danish_%28pastry%29
There is no tea called English tea. Tea is huge in England and there are many varieties of teas that are considered “English” because of their popularity in England.
Edit: Boy your Additional Details make you sound extremely rude and snobbish. No wonder people don’t like the French.
September 1st, 2010 at 7:36 am
thiscrakaslug says:
You forgot French Fries, Aussie biscuits ans Swiss cheese.
September 1st, 2010 at 8:10 am
it’s me! says:
All of these are used as adjectives to describe the type of muffin, the type of tea, the type of omelette in COMPARISON to others of the same category.
People in other countries DO use terms like this too. I’ve seen menus in Europe list an American hot dog because it’s different from the ones they’re used to. It just allows people to understand what kind they’re getting.
September 1st, 2010 at 8:56 am
Julia S says:
What are you talking about. People love European food. The fact that they don’t call it by the native name doesn’t change that.
English muffins do exist in England. They’re known as crumpets.
Danishes absolutely exist in Denmark, but is called “Viennese bread.”
As for French toast, it’s called “pain perdu.”
I find it hard to believe that you never ate tortilla de patatas while in Spain.
Americans (heck, speakers of all languages) often will refer to foods in their own language rather than by its native name. That doesn’t mean they give it a “bad name” or anything like that. People are lazy. They’d rather use a term that they can understand and pronounce easily than something that they trip over and mess up.
September 1st, 2010 at 9:47 am
ol’ dirty bingo caller says:
Danish do actually exists we call it “Wienerbrød” and it’s available in bakery shops all over
September 1st, 2010 at 10:27 am
Darkest Star says:
Pain Perdu, more commonly flavoured with vanilla rather than cinnamon is a French dish but a homely dessert or snack rather than a breakfast food (I have eaten it in Brittany). Muffins are as traditional in England (they are not the same as crumpets contrary to another answer) as is possible, they are more commonly served toasted with butter and sometimes jam. English tea is more of an infusion than is traditionally served in England but ironically for you the biggest supplier in America (Lipton) is actually an English company. Spanish omelette is a traditional Spanish dish sometimes called tortilla Espagnole which I have eaten as a tapas dish several times in Spain. Danish pastries are not an American invention but weirdly a Viennese one and in France are called as such but everywhere else are called Danish.
I am British by birth but my family is a mixture of French, Spanish, Italian, Irish and English with strong links and influence in and from all of these cultures.
Your credentials do not really stand up as I am not sure that there is a Basque who would ever consider themselves to be Spanish or French.
September 1st, 2010 at 10:57 am
che-guevara says:
I just want to say French toast exist in France.
September 1st, 2010 at 11:35 am